Self adjusting base and bulb holder



Oct. 6, R w CONN SELF ADJUSTING BASE AND BULB HOLDER Filed Julie 15. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lIHHHHlln.

ATTOR N EY Oct. 6, 1931. R. w. CONN SELF ADJUSTING BASE AND BULB Filed June 15, 1929 HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR F. W. CW/V/V,

ATTORNEY ROBERT w. 001m,

Patented Oct. 6, 1931 OF CRANSTON, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR T WESTINGHOUSE LAM? COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA SELF ADJUSTING BASE AND BULB HOLDER Application filed June 15,

This invention -relates to machines for manufacturing electrical devices and relates more particularly to a mechanism for holdinga plurality ofwork parts inaxial align- I prise a'sealed envelope and a base portion,

' ment.

In-themanufacture of electrical devices such as radio tubes. or the like which comit is necessary to provide mechanism for 1o securing the base to the envelope or bulb.

In the operation ofattaching' a base to a bulb it is important that the base be so positionedas to be substantially in axial alignment with thelongitudinal axis of the; bulb, in order that asymmetrical and marketable product be obtained.

In theproduction of radiotubes, for example, the mode of attaching a base to a bulb usually includes the deposit of a ring of basing cement about the inner wall and'adjacent to the perimeter of the open end of the base. The neck of the bulb is then inserted into the baseso that the cement is compressed between the base wall and the bulb. hen so positioned the baseandbulb are 3 passed through a baking oven sothat the cement will set and securely adhere to the bulb and base thus firmly attaching the two work parts togethen It is the practlce to provide bases with a quantity of cement properly positioned therein which bases'are then 'disposed'uponthe bulb neck and applied to a suitable holder.

It is an object of the present invention to provide. a holder wherein a base and bulb may be'temporarily supported andautomati cally adjustedinaxia-l alignment.

Another objector the invention is to provide a holder of simple construction which may be conveniently and expeditiously operated to automatically adjust and retain a plurality of work parts in predetermined relative positions. p 1

' Although the present invention may be employed for supporting and aligning the component parts'of various typesfof electrical devices the selected embodiment of the 1929. Serial No. 371,230.

usual projecting contact pins.

, Briefly the present construction comprises a bearing bracket for a vertically reciprocal centering member "to receive 7 the spherical portion of a bulb. The bulb with a base loosely disposed on the neck portion thereof is positioned on the centering member and the base portion of the bulb is disposed adjacent to a retainer member, with which the contact pins of thebase engage. Means are provided for tensio'nally engaging-the centering member so that the bulb'and base are normally urged to bring the base in contact with the retainer member and thus tem porarily hold the base and bulb inzposition for subsequentadjustment. Intermediate the retainer member and the centering member, is provided a base and bulb adjusting means so that when the bulb andbase are in position, said adjusting means'may beactuated to adjust the baseto "a predetermined position and alignthe bulb' to position itslongi- 'tudinal axis coincident with the longitudinal axis of the base. A bulb so supported is properly aligned and ready to be moved to position for subsequent operations.

I Fig. 2 is an enlarged front view. of a head re'adyto' receive a bulb and base.

Fig. 3 is a view of the head III-III in Fig. 2 and showing a base and taken on line bulb in dotted lines ready to bepositioned in I the head. p

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the head with a bulb and base positioned therein. 7

n Fig. 5'is a plan view of a head.

Fig. 6 is a view taken on line VI-VI in Fig. 4.

v15 generally termed a basing head and is indi- Fig. 4;

'in Fig.4.

showing a 'bulb with a bulb centering mem- V dotted lines in its lower posi-, u V v I o J tures 39 the positionof the o'entering memperspective view of abase having cement therein ready to be applied to: the neck'ofabulb. 3 7

. 3 Fig. 11 isa 'tion', 'and I 1 I i 7 isa view taken on' line vlI VII in' Fig. 8 is viefW taken on line VIIIVTII ig 9 is a'vievvtaken'on line IX 1Xlin is of om ts the'heads ber. shown in The present invention relates to What is T V cated a's a Wholejbytfhe reference numeral 15].; A plurality off these fheads, may, as

I shown 7 in Fig.7 1,- be mounted in] close spaced I f relation on the periphery of a conveyor 16. 1 lOi The conveyor maybe previded with theusu'al' mechanism ""(n'ot shown torcausing arotation thereof either continuously or intermittently. A r-adid-tube comprising a base and "afbulb :18 may be insertedin a head at the loading position A. The base may" be u provided yvithi a; "rin'g of cement I 19 so that 'When'theZ-baSeis disposed upon the bulb neck the cement will serve as an intermediate bonding mediumivvhen baked. by a travelof the'bulb andjbase through a heating-oven. I

The bulbmay be 'provided vvithlead 'vvires 2lwhich-are threadedthrough tubularcontact members 22 of the base so that when the base andbulb 'have been secured by' the ce-iv ment a subsequent operationmaybe performedlfor soldering-the "leadwires'to the contact members -01: pins 22:: After passing stashed thereto isldischar'gedatB." i I Y 13 Y through the f o'v en. the bulb. with the base; at

:5 It will be evident from the; above that it 7 is necessary to provide suitable meansvvhere- 'bythe baseis properly" aligned with respect f to'the bulblso thatvvhen the two partsbecome a unitary structure theyfvvill have the desired symmetrical appearance. For": the purpose of: properly aligning and holdinglthe' vvork parts together theiheadlfi is provided with a centering member 23 having'a plurality of V inclined contact surfaces-24 arranged to provide a three point contact for the' spheric'al surface"orb ),vvl-25 of thebulb 18."-The cenifi llg mber Z3 'is: mounted at the upper V fa slide rod 26 movable vertieallyin bearings; 27 and 28 ota bearing bracket 29. 'lhis: bracket may be secured by tap bolt 31 r emhemnve or-ic;

; effecting ,a tensional E91); the! purpose: of

engagement between the centering member .23Qan'd' the bulb; the rod 26 1 8 provided with-i anofiiset memben32 having an eXte-nsion33 -o provided with an aperture 3 X f T the sliderod 26 extends. A helical spring r 3 5 is xlispo'se'd between the extensionv 33 -and thebearingj28. The lower end-0f the "offset {4 through which member 32 is provided with a projection 36 of transverse apertures 39 to receive a cotterhavingan aperture 37 to receive the lower end 38 ofathe slide rod 26. The lower end i of the slide rod is provided" with a plurality pin 41 Which may be passed through aperture 42 in the extension and through an aperture 39 in therod.

By=adjustingtheslide rod placing the cotterpin 4:1 in-one orthe other'ofthe aper;

attained Without rotary movement 'thereoi A roller 45' may beprovided: on theextension 36 for engagement with a oamgsufiacefi so that at the proper position during a movement of the conveyor lithe-offsetmenibe'r V v 32 may be moved to lower the centering member 23 toireceive a bulb; l f desirablarhow ever, the ofiset member :may bemanually operated and for i7 is provided 3 The foregoing description thispurposeia fingerpiece alias 'tol'the mechanism for "receiving the 'spherijcal, por-.

tio'n o'fthe bulb: Vi hen the toporzbowvl-portion otthe bulb isdi'sposedin the centering member 23,"hoivever, thebase portion is" moved to. bring the contact pins 291111) engagement with the surface of ,a-slot48'pro videdsin a plate 49, (see Fig.5) and as the bulb18fis urged upwardly under the action ofthespring 35, the bottomsurface 51 of the baseis moved into contactI -ith the lower sur- 7 face 52 of'the said plate'49, thus thei'bulb and a r base'are temporarily held in position, i

The plate 49 is mounted at theupper ends of posts ,53 and 54, the lower endsofthesaid posts being suitably secured in a cross piece 55 integral with the bracket 29.&- For thepurpose of aligning the base as Wellas the bulb aniovable member 56 may beprovided. This member is secured to one end ot a pedestal 57 extending'from a cross head58, the said cross head being provided vvith bearings 59 and 61 slidabl'e upon the posts 53and' 54 respectively. V

wTh ef-niember 56 Which maybe termed an alignmei1tor adjuster element is-provided With four upwardly projeeting -lugs';62having surifaces '63 forming with the curvature ozt'the' cylindrical portion at the base and so arranged as to make contact withgjthe base when the said member. 561s moved down.-

"WardlyL" When the member 56 is in its upper position the lugs 62 project throughsuitably disposed apertures in theplategiy I path of movement or" the confveyor15 may be provided for engaging the'said roller 64.- The cam65'may "have a contact surfacefof s uch W The m'ember 56 maybe provided ro i1er' 6i mounted on thecross head 58; and'a 'cam 65 suitably disposed with respect to the V formation that when the head is in the I loading position the member '56 will be moved up into contiguous'relation with the plate 49, thus permitting the bulb to be positioned and held between the centering member 23 d theplate 49.

As the conveyor moves the surface 66 of the cam 65 causes the cross head 58 to move downwardly thereby lowering. the adjuster member 56and bringing the surfaces 63 of the lugs 62 in contact with the surface of the base, whereby the same is adjusted to the ledge engages shoulder 68 of the bulb and since the bulb and base are movable with relation to each other the said ledge 67 operating in conjunction with the centering device23 adjusts the bulb so that its longitudinal axis --'issubstantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the base. The adjuster member 56 may be held in this l-oweredposition by reason of the formation of the cam 65 while the bulb and base are passed through the baking oven. After the baking operation has been performed and the bulb is moved to position for discharge the cam 65 may cause an upward movementof the member 56 to its in- 'itial position.

the base.

' The bulb is then in position to be discharged, which discharge may be accomplished by hand through a downward movement of the member 32 by engagement with the fingerpiece 47. The discharge may, however, be accomplished automatically by an engagement between the cam surface 46 and the roller 4.5, at which time a suitable valve may be automatically opened to permit a discharge of air under pressure from nozzles 70 and 71 provided on an air conduit 7 2 (see Fig. 1). When the air jet discharge is employed, the bulb may, be'projected into a chute or guide 74 leading to a suitably disposed receptacle not shown.

may, however, afterbeing released, be removed by suitable {mechanism and transferred to another machine for the next opera tion, as for example, theoperation of soldering the lead wires to the contact members of Fromthe foregoing it will be evident that by reason of the present invention a base may be disposed upon a bulb neck and positioned in a holder which'will automatically adjust the base to a predetermined position and align the bulb in proper relation to the base for attachment thereto.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown and described herein it is to be understood that modifications may be made therein without departing from-the -he bulb with the'base connected therewith spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. What is claimed is: 1. A device for holding a-plurality of work parts in alignment comprising contact surfaces for engaging one part with its longitudinal axis in a given position, means for temporarily supporting another work part with its longitudinal axis in a given position, and

means for aligning said second work part with its longitudinal axis coincident with the axis of said firstpart. 2. A bulb and base aligning device comprising means for holding a base, means for holding a bulb adj acentto said base, means for adj usting a base, and means for readjusting said bulb and base to bring their longitudinal axis incoincidence. L1 3. A bulb and base aligning device comprisingbase holding means, means for adjusting said base in said holding means, bulb supporting means and means for actuating said. bulb supporting means to adjust said bulb for alignment with said base.

4. A bulb and base aligning device comprising means for supporting a bulb having a base looselydisposed on the neck portion thereof, means for engaging the base and means for changing the relativepositions of said first and last mentioned means to adjust said bulb and base toaxial alignment.

5. A bulb andbase aligning device comprising a bulb centering member, a member for engaging a' portion of'said base, a base aligning member means for actuating said aligning member to adjust the base with respect to said bulb and means cooperating with said bulb centering member for aligning said bulb with said base;

6. 'A head for holding a bulb and base comprising means for engaging a portion of a base disposed on a bulb neck, means for engaging a portion of said bulb and means for actuating said respective engaging means to adjust-said bulband base in predetermined relation.

loosely disposed on the neck thereof comprising a base pin engaging member, a bulb engaging member, and means intermediate said members for adjusting said base and bulb to bring their longitudinal axes substantially in alignment.- 1 a 8. A head forholding a bulb having a base loosely disposed on the neck thereof comprising means for engaging a portion of said base, means for engaging said bulb and means intermediate said respective engaging means for adjusting said base and bulb to axial alignment.

9. A device for holding a bulb with a base disposed on the neck portion thereof comprising bulb centering means, base adjusting means and means for aligning said base and bulb in a common axial line.

7 A head for holding a bulb having a base disposed on the neck portion thereofcompris ing bulbj centering means,- .ibase retaining means and means intermediate sald first and base and bulb. on a common axial linei 11. A device forholdingabulb with a base disposed on the neck portion thereof compris-r second mentioned means for aligning sai'd ing a retainer-member for said base; a center'- ing-member for said bulb, means for adjust- I ably retaining said base'between said retainer- 'memberand said bulb and means for; adjusting said bulb and'base in axialalignment.

12. A device for holding a bulb with a'base disposed on the neck portion thereof comprislng'a reta ner-member for said base, a center- 1 'ingmember for said bulb a plurality of conf tact surfaces for engaging and adjusting. said base to a predetermined:position and a bulb engaging surfaceior adjusting said bulb in axialialignment ith'saidbase v V -13I=A device for holding a bulb Witha base disposed on the neck portion th'ereofcomprising a retainer-memberfor said base, a center ing-memberfor said bulb, means for adjusts 1 i ably retaining'said base between said retainer Q member and'said bulb and means foradjust l I ing said bulb; and base: in axial alignment and v means'for discharging said base and bulb;

prising a bulbbentering member, means for tensionall-y holdingxsaid member in contact 14. Aheadforholding a'base and bulb com-- With a bulb havingn base-disposed on the neck.

v portionthereofi a member for engaging the cont-act pins of saidbase to temporarily hold I the same in' position-on'saidbulb, means for adjusting baselto a predetermined position and means for adjusting. said bulb in axial alignment with said base 7 comprising a support for said bulb, a plurality of contact-surfaces on said support for I receivingiand centering the spherical portion I "of said bulb, a contaet-surfacejfor engaging 1 a said base, means formaintainingsaid contactsurfaces engaged With said bulb'to retain said base; against said eontaot-surface,imeans for i adjusting saidbase to: a predetermined posimeans for aligning said bulb With .saidbasef e '1 a: i

,- In testimony whereof, I'haye hereunto sub- 7 scribed my name tion and this 6 dayofJ 11116 1929.;

15 A head for holding a'bulb having a'base f I p loosely disposed on the neck portion thereof,

' ROBERT .WQQONN. V 

